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Description: Landmark legislation provides guiding principles for land management planning in southern Nevada and the rest of the United States. Such legislation includes, but is not limited to, the Forest Service Organic Administration Act of 1897 (16 U.S.C. 473-478, 479-482 and 551), National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 (U.S.C. Title 16, Secs. 1-4), Wilderness Act 1964 (P.L.88-577), National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L 91-190), Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 91-205), National Forest Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-588), and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-579). The acts establishing congressionally designated areas within southern Nevada, such as Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, and Desert National Wildlife Refuge, also contain guidelines for the management of these lands. These documents variously require preservation of natural and cultural resources and wilderness character, protection of species, and prevention of undesirable environmental effects from land management actions. These requirements must be met while allowing for multiple “uses” of certain public lands (e.g. recreation, ranching, resource extraction, renewable energy development, etc.) to the degree that they do not threaten preservation, protection, and prevention goals. Many considerations come into play in the development and implementation of land management plans and actions. The planning process requires a balancing act that sometimes pits one need or priority against another. When priorities align, management actions can have multiple benefits. In some cases, specific priorities can trump other needs and priorities and receive disproportionate consideration. Overall, the management of public lands is a very complicated and sometimes contentious process.